Andrew Mason

Kathryn Bell

BIOL 1090

04/10/2017

Eating Disorder Research: News Analysis

The article that I have chosen to respond to, titled "One approach can

prevent teen obesity, eating disorders, new guidelines say" states that

extremes in adolescent weight management can be avoided by parents

encouraging a fitness-based approach to health, rather than one based on

weight loss or dieting. The main conclusion drawn by the researchers, who

reached their conclusion by summarizing existing research, is that a

combination of eating together as a family as much as possible, encouraging

adolescents to live a healthy lifestyle instead one concerned with weight

loss, not encouraging dieting for adolescents, and avoiding making negative

comments about weight. The initial researchers outlined five strategies for

accomplishing this very thing; they stated that doctors and parents should

avoid encouraging diets, "weight talk" (such as commenting on their weight

or someone else's), and teasing about weight, as well as frequent, regular

family meals and encouraging adolescents to lead a healthy, fitness-based

lifestyle.

The primary difference between the article and the original research

presented is the tone of the writing, as well as the respective lengths of said
writing. The original research has a far more academic tone and appears to

be written primarily for a much more academic, professional audience, such

as pediatricians who have an interest in treating eating disorders in

adolescents. Meanwhile, the article from Science Daily consolidates the

lengthy research report originally published in Pediatrics into writing that is

much easier and less time-consuming for the average reader to comprehend,

as the original research report is far more in-depth.

The possible impacts this research could have could be most quickly

described as beneficial, but there remain some other factors to consider.

While causing the rates of dangerous extremes in weight and eating patterns

to take a sizable cut can only be beneficial in both the short and long term, it

would require parents to further rearrange their schedules, when they might

already be crunched for time. Furthermore, the kinds of foods usually

recommended by physicians might simply be too expensive for poverty-

stricken families who can barely afford to keep a roof over their heads and

their bellies full with any kind of food at all. It goes without saying that these

are not the only possible impacts on society, but they are perhaps the most

prominent.

Both the original researchers and the writer of the initial article are

affiliated with nonpartisan groups, the AAP (American Association of

Pediatrics) and Stanford University. I do not suspect that my opinions would

change if the initial researchers were affiliated with a for-profit group, but I
might if the article writer was, since articles written by journalists affiliated

with for-profit organizations tend to reflect the financial interests of the

organization and therefore cannot be considered truly impartial. I cannot find

evidence that these prevention strategies are ineffective, as the original

research was based on preexisting studies and the article I found that might

have indicated disagreement simply stated that prevention programs were

most effective for at-risk populations, as it gave said populations more

knowledge and awareness of what was dangerous and what was not. Full

Turabian citation for this source is at the end of the paper.

The article in question did not change my views; it would be more

accurate to say that it expanded my views since most of the strategies

presented seem to be almost common sense. Plus, since I currently intend to

continue on to medical school, I am aware of the physiological and

psychological risks associated with extremes in weight and weight-control

behaviors. I chose this article because since I am actually at a high risk for

eating disorders, due largely to the fact that I am a member of the LGBT

community, as well as the fact that I am a psychology major who has long

struggled with his weight and engaged in some extreme weight-control

behaviors in the past. Suffice it to say that this is quite a personal issue for

me.

I personally feel that the article I chose was very well set up and

explained for the story. It had a logical flow and was easy for someone like
me to follow. The author did indeed do a good job of setting it up, as

evidenced by the opening statement of "A single approach can prevent both

obesity and eating disorders in teenagers, according to new guidelines from

the American Academy of Pediatrics".

 Bibliography

Digitale, Erin. August 22, 2016. "One approach can prevent teen obesity,

eating disorders, new guidelines say". Scientific Daily. August 22, 2016.

Accessed April 10, 2017.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/08/160822083404.htm.

Golden, Neville H., Marcie Schneider, Christine Wood, Committee On

Nutrition, Committee On Adolescence, and Section On Obesity. "Preventing

Obesity and Eating Disorders in Adolescents." Pediatrics. September 01,

2016. Accessed April 10, 2017.

http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/138/3/e20161649.

Angmesser, Lisa, and Susan Verscheure. "Are Eating Disorder Prevention

Programs Effective." Journal of Athletic Training. May & june 2009. Accessed

April 10, 2017. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2681220/.